11 Commandments of Lacrosse

These are the 11 Lacrosse Commandments that every player should follow.  

1. You must be able to catch, throw and shoot both left-handed and right-handed.
2. The more time you spend playing lacrosse with your stick perpendicular to the ground (as opposed to parallel to the ground), the better player you will become. This allows the player to  protect the full length of his stick with his body.
3. Do not hold the ball in your stick.  The ball can be passed over a distance at speeds faster than anyone can run. Defensive pressure becomes far less of an irritation when a player knows how to get rid of the ball.
4. Move the ball immediately upon gaining possession of a loose ball. If your team picked up a loose ball, it can capitalize on the opponent′s misalignment only if it can move the ball before the opponent has time to adjust.
5. You must learn how to move without the ball. Every lacrosse player plays 90% of the time without the ball. You must maximize your time without the ball so that you put yourself in a position to do something when you get it. 
6. You must move to the ball. This is particularly true when a player is (1) open on the backside (2) not being watched by a defense man in front of him and (3) receiving a pass to shoot. 
7. Look to a spot behind the goalie when you shoot. A spot behind the goalie is a spot out of the goalie′s momentum. 
8. Shoot with a quick release.
9. Defense must have stick skills as good or better than both attack men and midfielders. Defense men must be able to clear the ball. Broken clears put teams in their most vulnerable position possible. The only way to ensure that clears do not fail is to make sure the ball does not go on the ground. That requires flawless throwing and catching.
10. Defenders must play defense like boxers box. Boxers never stand still with reference to their opponent. They use their footwork to gain position and advantage. Neither do they leave their arm extended after throwing a punch. A defender should not leave his stick or his opponent′s hip. He must learn to move, check, and reload to repeat the process.
11. Defenders do not have to take the ball away to play good defense. The purpose of all defense is to reduce the opponents′ scoring. That is accomplished by focusing on four factors: (1) prevent high percentage shots, (2) hinder passing that allows opponents into the prime shooting area, (3) gain possession of loose balls, and (4) begin the transition game. The attributes that every defender must have are footwork, stickwork, anticipation and hustle.

All information was gathered at WalthamLacrosse.com